1889 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

principles of justice and love will be the foundation of thatthrone. And backed, as it will be, by divine wisdom and power,good results, everlasting blessings, will result to the upright inheart. All its power and all the wisdom of its rulers will beexercised lovingly and justly, for the good of the fallen humanfamily, for the elevation to perfection of all the willinglyobedient; to the intent that when this Millennial reign of Christis finished, all such being perfected may then be given thecontrol of earth as kings or sovereigns in common, subject toGod's general government--as in a limited republic the citizensof the several states arrange their own affairs subject to the lawsand regulations of the general government;-- while thedisobedient, unworthy of life, shall be cut off from life in thesecond death.R1164 : page 2Thus the original dominion of earth, lost by Adam through sinand redeemed by Christ's ransom-sacrifice, is to be fullyrestored to such as shall be found worthy of it by their Redeemerin the close of his Millennial reign--God's due time.Only those who see God's plan of the ages can appreciate thecare with which he is now selecting and disciplining everymember of that "little flock" for the important positions andwork of that kingdom --to be kings and priests unto God and toreign on the earth as joint-heirs with Jesus Christ their Lord. "Apeculiar people" they will indeed be, very different from thehaughty, proud, arrogant aristocracy of the present time. Noneof the proud and haughty (1 Pet. 5:5), and not many rich or greator noble hath God chosen, but the poor of the world, rich in faithand love and humility, to be joint-heirs with Christ in thecoming kingdom.None of the candidates for these coming honors andopportunities of blessing the world need wonder, then, at thecourse of instruction, discipline and experience to which theyare now subjected, as though some strange thing happened untothem. (1 Pet. 4:12.) But let them rejoice that they are countedworthy of the discipline and seek to make their calling andselection sure by permitting the promises and providences ofGod to work in them to will and to do his good pleasure. Let allsuch remember that love in them is to take the place ofselfishness, otherwise they will be unfit for the coming gloryand service. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God islove. And hereby know we that we dwell in God and he in us,because he hath given us of his spirit --love.--1 John 4:7-19.Verily, too, God is about to show the world the true andbeneficial operation of the law of Primogeniture, which theyborrowed in part from the typical characters and customs of OldTestament times and misapplied, to the world's enslavement andclass exaltation. The Church of the FIRSTBORN (whose head is